Pubdate: Wed, 18 Jun 2008
Source: Charlotte Observer (NC)
Copyright: 2008 The Charlotte Observer
Contact:  http://www.charlotte.com/observer/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/78
Author: Gary L. Wright
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/corrupt.htm (Corruption - United States)

POLICE OFFICERS AIDED DRUG SUSPECT

Investigation Targeted Suspect's House

Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officers Gerald Holas and Jason Ross are 
accused of helping a suspected drug dealer avoid police detection and 
protecting his illegal drug activity, according to the FBI. Holas is 
accused of warning the alleged drug dealer about an impending drug 
bust earlier this month.

He's also accused of advising the suspected dealer to move because 
his home was "hot" and that police might soon swoop in. The two 
officers also allegedly gave the suspected dealer the address of a 
person who had robbed him, allowing the dealer to seek revenge. The 
details about the police officers' activities were revealed in a 
27-page affidavit unsealed in federal court in Charlotte Tuesday. 
Holas and Ross, both 35, resigned last week and were charged with 
conspiring with alleged dealer David C. Lockhart to distribute crack cocaine.

The charge is punishable by up to life in prison and carries a 
mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years.

Lockhart, 25, also is charged in connection with the conspiracy. The 
affidavit says the former officers have admitted to authorities that 
they protected Lockhart's cocaine distribution, but say they did so 
in exchange for Lockhart providing them information they could use to 
arrest his suppliers and customers.

The officers also admitted participating in a number of acts to 
further Lockhart's drug distribution, the court document says. 
Lockhart has admitted that he moved large quantities of cocaine with 
others, the affidavit says, and confirmed the officers' account that 
he would get their protection in exchange for information that would 
help in arresting others. In a case that has drawn criticism from 
police brass and the Charlotte mayor, the FBI disclosed a series of 
incidents linking the officers and Lockhart. Among the incidents 
cited in the affidavit is a May 14 police search during which 
Lockhart gets advice from officer Holas in series of phone calls. It 
began when police went to Lockhart's home and searched him and 
several others in the front yard. They suspected that Lockhart was 
involved in distributing cocaine and might have a weapon, the 
affidavit says. Electronic surveillance showed a series of six phone 
conversations between Lockhart and officer Holas during the search.

Lockhart initiated several contacts, and Holas also phoned Lockhart, 
the court document says. The affidavit details this exchange between 
the two: Officer Holas: "Just you know, whatever it is, just be as 
cooperative as you can be, but you don't have to let..." Lockhart 
interrupts: "I'm trying to be cooperative, man. But they just messing 
with me, man." Holas: "Are they detaining you?" Lockhart: "I don't 
know if they detaining me or what." The call ended with Holas 
instructing Lockhart to "get in the house" once the search was over.

Holas soon called back, the affidavit says, and the pair talked for 
eight minutes and 22 seconds.

During that conversation, Lockhart spelled out what had happened. 
Lockhart told Holas that things could have gone bad for him but that 
police hadn't found any illegal drugs or guns during the search.

He told Holas that he had been selling drugs to a "white girl" just 
before police arrived, but that he was not "dirty" when police showed 
up, the affidavit says. Holas told Lockhart the girl must have been 
an informant and instructed Lockhart to move to a new location 
because his current address was now "hot" and that the investigating 
officers will come back, the affidavit says. Lockhart then instructed 
a relative to come get him and hid his drugs, money and a gun based 
on Holas' warning, the affidavit says. The affidavit also describes a 
June 3 incident in which Holas tips off Lockhart about a possible 
drug bust at a hotel.

Holas was working that night with a drug interdiction team around 
Sugar Creek Road and Interstate 85 where illegal drug activity was 
suspected at several hotels.

At 9:32 p.m., officer Holas phoned Lockhart and asked him if he was 
at the Economy Inn. When Lockhart said yes, Holas asked if he was 
"dirty." Lockhart said yes, he was carrying drugs, the affidavit 
says. Holas told Lockhart that police or informants were watching the 
hotel and that Lockhart should leave immediately, the affidavit says. 
At 9:36, Holas called Lockhart back and warned that police activity 
at the hotel was likely forthcoming.

Lockhart asked Holas if he was "golden" to leave right then. Holas 
told him that he was "clear to 85." "This activity and these overt 
acts by Holas were to prevent Lockhart's arrest, and, thereby allow 
his illegal cocaine distribution business to continue," FBI agent 
Eric Davis wrote in the affidavit. The investigation began about six 
months ago after a confidential source informed the FBI that Lockhart 
was involved in the distribution of cocaine, and that at least two 
CMPD officers knew about it and were protecting him, the affidavit 
says. The source told the FBI that Lockhart had been in continuous 
contact with the officers since July 2007. The affidavit also 
outlines an October incident that involved officer Ross helping 
Lockhart find an enemy so he could get revenge. Lockhart and at least 
one of his associates had been the victims of an armed robbery, the 
affidavit says, citing a confidential source.

The robbers took cocaine and money from Lockhart.

Lockhart asked Holas and Ross for assistance in identifying the 
person who robbed him.

Within a day Lockhart had the name of the person he believed had 
robbed him. Officer Ross accessed a report that showed a possible 
address for the robber, the affidavit says.

Lockhart poured gasoline in at least four large beer bottles and 
placed rags in the bottle openings.

He set fire to the bottles and threw then against the house, shouting 
expletives, the affidavit says. The suspected robber, along with 
other residents, ran from the burning house. In the next 48 hours, 
there were 16 separate contacts between Holas or Ross and Lockhart's phone.

"There is no apparent law enforcement reason for Holas or Ross to 
share an address of a robbery suspect in a drug robbery with the 
victim ...," agent Davis wrote in the affidavit.
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